Real-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligence system

ABSTRACT

An imaging and tracking device used for real-time health care inventory intelligence includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor captures images of inventory items stored within a furniture unit to which at least a portion of the imaging and tracking device is coupled. The processor processes the images captured using the image sensor to detect a physical retrieval of one of the inventory items from the furniture unit and to generate a signal including data associated with the retrieved inventory item. A software application running on a server device uses the signal to automatically update a database record associated with the retrieved inventory item within a database. Information associated with the updated database record is then transmitted to a client device in communication with the server device. The information may include instructions for rendering a graphical user interface of the software application at the client device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Patent Ser. No. 62/677,929, filed May 30, 2018, the entiredisclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a real-time health care inventory imaging andtracking intelligence system, in particular, to a system for real-timemonitoring, tracking, and analysis of inventory usage in the health carefield based on imaging, motion, and/or other detections.

BACKGROUND

Inefficiencies in health care supply chain tracking and managing, suchas those resulting from insufficient technical approaches or the lack ofintelligent technical modeling, cost the health care industry millionsof dollars annually. Examples of such inefficiencies include inventoryleakages, inaccurate charge captures, poor or improper inventorytacking, item expirations, and high administrative costs incurred insupply reordering. Moreover, many supply usage associated with specificpatient care, employee tasks, task metrics and characteristics, andadministrative activities in health care settings remain undocumented.The lack of documentation makes it difficult for health care providers(e.g., clinics and hospitals) to analyze activity-based cost metrics andinformation relating to supply chain and inventory utilization.Furthermore, because real-time inventory usage information isunavailable, it is difficult for health care providers to effectivelyimprove staff operations.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are, inter alia, implementations of systems andtechniques for real-time health care inventory imaging and trackingintelligence.

In one implementation, a system for real-time health care inventorytracking is disclosed. The system includes an imaging and trackingdevice and a server device. The imaging and tracking device includes animage sensor and a processor. The image sensor captures images ofinventory items stored within a furniture unit to which at least aportion of the imaging and tracking device is coupled. The processorprocesses the images captured using the image sensor to detect aphysical retrieval of one of the inventory items from the furniture unitand to generate a signal including data associated with the retrievedinventory item. The server device runs a software application thatidentifies the retrieved inventory item based on the signal. Thesoftware application uses the signal to automatically update a databaserecord associated with the retrieved inventory item within a database.Information associated with the updated database record is transmittedto a client device in communication with the server device.

In another implementation, an imaging and tracking device for real-timehealth care inventory tracking is disclosed. The imaging and trackingdevice includes an image sensor, a processor, and a network interface.The image sensor captures images of inventory items stored within afurniture unit to which at least a portion of the imaging and trackingdevice is coupled. The processor processes the images captured using theimage sensor to detect a physical retrieval of one of the inventoryitems from the furniture unit and to generate a signal including dataidentifying the retrieved inventory item. The network interfacetransmits the signal to a server device. A software application runningon the server device uses the signal to automatically update a recordassociated with the retrieved inventory item within a database.

In yet another implementation, a method for real-time health careinventory tracking using an imaging and tracking device is disclosed.The method includes configuring the imaging and tracking device for usein tracking inventory items within a furniture unit. Using the imagingand tracking device, a physical retrieval of one of the inventory itemsfrom the furniture unit is detected. A first signal including dataassociated with the retrieved inventory item is generated at the imagingand tracking device. The first signal is transmitted from the imagingand tracking device to a server device running a software applicationfor the real-time health care inventory tracking. The softwareapplication automatically updates a database record associated with theretrieved inventory item based on the first signal. The server devicetransmits a second signal indicative of the updated database record to aclient device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is best understood from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis emphasized that, according to common practice, the various featuresof the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of thevarious features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a real-time health careinventory imaging and tracking intelligence system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging and trackingdevice used in a real-time health care inventory imaging and trackingintelligence system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging and trackingdevice coupled to a furniture unit for monitoring and tracking inventoryitems.

FIGS. 4A-B are illustrations showing examples of inventory itemenumeration for identification using an imaging and tracking device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a workflow of areal-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligencesystem.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of a graphical userinterface (GUI) of a software application for inventory tracking andmanagement.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a technique for real-timehealth care inventory imaging and tracking intelligence.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a computing device whichmay be used in a region-based electrical intelligence system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of this disclosure include using an imaging and trackingdevice used for real-time health care inventory intelligence. Theimaging and tracking device includes an image sensor and a processor.The image sensor captures images of inventory items stored within afurniture unit to which at least a portion of the imaging and trackingdevice is coupled. The processor processes the images captured using theimage sensor to detect a physical retrieval of one of the inventoryitems from the furniture unit and to generate a signal including dataassociated with the retrieved inventory item. A software applicationrunning on a server device uses the signal to automatically update adatabase record associated with the retrieved inventory item within adatabase. Information associated with the updated database record isthen transmitted to a client device in communication with the serverdevice. The information may include instructions for rendering agraphical user interface of the software application at the clientdevice.

An imaging and tracking device as disclosed herein is capable ofcapturing information indicative of a current inventory quantity withinor on a furniture unit in real-time through one or more sensors (e.g.,an image sensor, a motion sensor, or another sensor, or a combinationthereof). For example, the sensors may be used to recognize inventoryitems stored within or on the furniture unit based on detectedappearances of the inventory items (e.g., item shapes, text content,graphic content, item sizes, or the like) and/or locations of thoseinventory items within or on the furniture unit. Information recordedusing the sensors is used in real-time to detect a physical retrieval ofan inventory item from the furniture unit. For example, in someimplementations, enumerations of the inventory items stored within or onthe furniture unit may be used to detect a physical retrieval of aninventory item from the furniture unit. The detection of the physicalretrieval of the inventory item is used in an automated updating of adatabase record by a software application to enable real-time trackingof the inventory item.

The real-time detection of changes to inventory items stored within oron a furniture item represents an improvement in inventory trackingcomputing technology, for example, based on the sensors included withinthe imaging and tracking device, the processing capabilities of theimaging and tracking device and/or of the server which runs the softwareapplication (e.g., in enumerating inventory items using real-time imagedata and detecting changes to inventory items based on suchenumerations), and based on other improvements demonstrated throughoutthis disclosure. The updating of database records associated withinventory items detected to have changed (e.g., by a physical retrievalthereof from a furniture unit) further represents a solution rooted inthe technical environment presented by the imaging and tracking deviceand communicated server to the technical problem of supporting real-timetracking.

To describe some implementations in greater detail, reference is firstmade to examples of hardware and software structures used to implement areal-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligencesystem. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a real-timehealth care inventory imaging and tracking intelligence system 100. Thesystem 100 includes an image and tracking device 102 coupled to afurniture unit 104 and a server 106 that runs a software application 108and stores a database 110.

The imaging and tracking device 102 is a device which is used to monitorinventory items 112 stored within or on the furniture unit 104. Thefurniture unit 104 is or includes a piece of furniture with at least onesurface configured for storing the inventory items 112. In someimplementations, the furniture unit 104 may include a number of shelvesof the same or different sizes. In some implementations, the furnitureunit 104 may include a number of drawers of the same or different sizes.In some implementations, the furniture unit may include a number ofcabinets of the same or different sizes. In some implementations, thefurniture unit 104 may include a combination of shelves, drawers, and/orcabinets. The furniture unit 104 may be configured to store theinventory items 112 at particular temperatures. For example, thefurniture unit 104 may be a refrigerated unit. In another example, thefurniture unit 104 may be a heated unit. It will be understood that,aside from the foregoing examples and implementations, the furnitureunit 104 may be include other types of open or enclosed surfaces or setsof surfaces within or upon which the inventory items 112 may be stored.

The inventory items 112 are items which may be used to provide healthcare support to a patient. Examples of the inventory items 112 include,but are not limited to, bandages, gauze materials, syringes,medications, ointments, needles, intravenous delivery mechanisms,fluids, medical tapes, and other materials. The inventory items 112 arestored within or on the furniture unit 104. For example, where thefurniture unit 104 is a shelving unit with a number of shelves, eachshelf of the furniture unit 104 can store some of the inventory items112. In another example, some of the inventory items 112 may be storedon some of the shelves of the furniture unit 104, while other shelves ofthe furniture unit 104 do not store inventory items 112.

The imaging and tracking device 102 includes an image sensor, aprocessing component configured to process data captured using the imagesensor, a network interface for communicating information processedusing the processing component to other devices (e.g., the server 106),and a power source for supplying power for use by the image sensor, theprocessing component, and the network interface. The imaging andtracking device 102 monitors activity occurring with respect to thefurniture unit 104, such as to detect when an inventory item 112 isremoved from the furniture unit 104 and to identify the inventory item112 which was removed. In some implementations, the imaging and trackingdevice 102 may use sensors other than an image sensor to detect andidentify removed inventory items 112. For example, the imaging andtracking device 102 may include a motion sensor. In another example, theimaging and tracking device 102 include an accelerometer or other sensorcapable of detecting vibrations to which the furniture unit 104 isexposed. In yet another example, the imaging and tracking device 102 mayinclude another sensor usable to detect changes within the furnitureunit 104.

The imaging and tracking device 102 is removably coupled to a portion ofthe furniture unit 104. For example, the imaging and tracking device 102may be coupled to a portion of the furniture unit 104 using a hook andloop fastener, an adhesive strip, a mounting mechanism which enables theremoval of the imaging and tracking device 102 from the furniture unit104, or another removable coupling technique. Alternatively, the imagingand tracking device 102 may be permanently coupled to a portion of thefurniture unit 104. For example, the imaging and tracking device 102 maybe installed using screws or other mechanical fasteners, an adhesive, amounting mechanism which prevents the removal of the imaging andtracking device 102 from the furniture unit 104, or another permanentcoupling technique.

The server 106 is a computing aspect that runs the software application108. The server 106 may be or include a hardware server (e.g., a serverdevice), a software server (e.g., a web server and/or a virtual server),or both. For example, where the server 106 is or includes a hardwareserver, the server 106 may be a server device located in a rack, such asof a data center.

The software application 108 is used to process information receivedfrom the imaging and tracking device 102, for example, over a network116. In some implementations, the software application 108 can be usedto process information received from the imaging and tracking device 102to identify an inventory item 112 which has been physically retrievedfrom the furniture unit 104. In some implementations, the softwareapplication 108 can be used to update database records associated withretrieved inventory items 112. In some implementations, the softwareapplication 108 can be used to transmit signals indicative of updateddatabase records to a client 116. In some implementations, the softwareapplication 108 is a web application run within a web page served byserver 106 and accessed, for example, by the client 116. In someimplementations, the software application 108 is a mobile applicationwhich includes a server-side application running on the server 106 and aclient-side application running on the client 116.

The software application 108 accesses the database 110 stored on theserver 106 to perform at least some of the functionality of the softwareapplication 108. The database 110 is a database or other data store usedto store, manage, or otherwise provide data used to deliverfunctionality of the web application 108. The database 110 may, forexample, be a relational database management system, an object database,an XML database, a configuration management database, a managementinformation base, one or more flat files, other suitable non-transientstorage mechanisms, or a combination thereof.

The database 110 can store records relating to inventory supplies (e.g.,the inventory 112) which are or may be monitored using the imaging andtracking device 102 or by a different imaging and tracking device withinthe furniture unit 104 or within a different furniture unit. Thedatabase 110 can also store records relating to the usage, includingpre-care and post-care instructions, for some or all of the inventory112. The database 110 can also store records related to administrativetasks, patient-related tasks, patient names, staff members authorized toretrieve the inventory items 112 from the furniture unit 104, and/orother records.

The software application 108 includes a dashboard which enables a userthereof (e.g., a user of the server 106 or a user of the client 116) toreview information processed using the system 100. For example, thedashboard can be used to review information received at the softwareapplication 108 from the imaging and tracking device 102. In anotherexample, the dashboard can be used to review changes made to recordswithin the database 110 based on the information received from theimaging and tracking device 102. In yet another example, the dashboardcan be used to view information (e.g., knowledgebase articles or thelike) associated with inventory items 112 which have been detected asbeing physically retrieved from the furniture unit 104.

The imaging and tracking device 102 communicates with the server 106over the network 114. The network 114 may, for example, be a local areanetwork, a wide area network, a machine-to-machine network, a virtualprivate network, or another public or private network. Communicationover the network 114 may use one or more network protocols, such asusing Ethernet, TCP, IP, power line communication, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®,infrared, GPRS, GSM, CDMA, Z-Wave, ZigBee, another protocol, or acombination thereof.

The client 116 may be given access to the software application 108. Theclient 116 may be or include a hardware client (e.g., a client device),a software client (e.g., a web server and/or a virtual server), or both.For example, the client 116 may be a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or the like. In another example, the client 116may be a desktop computer or another non-mobile computer. The client 118may run a client-side software application or other software tocommunicate with the software application 108. For example, theclient-side software application may be a mobile application thatenables access to some or all functionality and/or data of the softwareapplication 108. The client 118 communicates with the server 106 overthe network 116.

Implementations of the real-time health care inventory imaging andtracking intelligence system 100 may differ from what is shown anddescribed with respect to FIG. 1 . In some implementations, the imagingand tracking device 102 communicates with the server 106 over thenetwork 114 using an intermediary relay. For example, the intermediaryrelay may be or include network hardware, such as a router, a switch, aload balancer, another network device, or a combination thereof. Theintermediary relay may receive information and/or commands from and/ortransmit information and/or commands to the imaging and tracking device102 using one or more network protocols, such as using Ethernet, TCP,IP, power line communication, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, infrared, GPRS, GSM,CDMA, Z-Wave, ZigBee, another protocol, or a combination thereof.

In some implementations, the server 106 and the client 116 may eachrepresent computing devices located within a common area. For example,the server 106 and the client 116 may both be computers located within ahealth care clinic or hospital. In some implementations, the server 106and the client 116 may be combined into a single computing device. Insome implementations, the software application 108 may transmit pushnotifications, text messages, or other alerts to client 116 withoutclient 116 first accessing the software application 108 (e.g., via awebpage or otherwise). For example, the software application 108 can beconfigured to automatically transmit signals to certain clients, such asusing a whitelist or otherwise.

In some implementations, a health care facility may use multiple imagingand tracking devices. For example, each of the multiple imaging andtracking devices may be coupled to a different furniture unit or todifferent shelves, drawers, or cabinets of the same furniture unit. Thesoftware application 108 can be used to receive and process signals fromeach of the multiple imaging and tracking devices. For example, thesoftware application 108 can identify individual imaging and trackingdevices from which data is received, such as within a GUI generated bythe software application 108 based on the retrieval of an inventory item112.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging and trackingdevice 200 used in a real-time health care inventory imaging andtracking intelligence system, for example, the system 100 shown in FIG.1 . For example, the imaging and tracking device 200 may be the imagingand tracking device 102 shown in FIG. 1 . The imaging and trackingdevice 200 includes an image sensor 202, a motion sensor 204, aprocessor 206, a network interface 208, and a power source 210.

The image sensor 202 is a sensor configured to capture images within afield of view of the image sensor 202 or otherwise capture data used toconstruct images. The image sensor 202 may, for example, be acharge-coupled device sensor, an active pixel sensor, a complementarymetal-oxide semiconductor sensor, an N-type metal-oxide-semiconductorsensor, or another sensor or combination of sensors.

The motion sensor 204 is a sensor configured to detect motion within afield of motion of the motion sensor 204. The motion sensor 204 may, forexample, be an infrared sensor (e.g., a passive infrared sensor), amicrowave sensor, an area reflective sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, oranother sensor or combination of sensors.

The processor 206 is a central processing unit, such as amicroprocessor, and can include single or multiple processors havingsingle or multiple processing cores. In some implementations, theprocessor 206 may be or otherwise refer to an integrated circuit, forexample, a field programmable gate array (e.g., FPGA), programmablelogic device (PLD), reconfigurable computer fabric (RCF), system on achip (SoC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/oranother type of integrated circuit. The processor 206 includes a cache,or cache memory, for local storage of operating data and/orinstructions. For example, the cache can be used to temporarily storedata recorded using the image sensor 202, the motion sensor 204, and/oranother sensor (e.g., in implementations in which the imaging andtracking device 200 includes such another sensor, such as describedbelow).

The network interface 208 is used to transmit information and/orcommands to and/or receive information and/or commands from one or moredevices external to the imaging and tracking device 200. The networkinterface 208 provides a connection or link to a network (e.g., thenetwork 114 shown in FIG. 1 ). The network interface 208 can be a wirednetwork interface or a wireless network interface. The imaging andtracking device 200 can communicate with other devices via the networkinterface 208 using one or more network protocols, such as usingEthernet, TCP, IP, power line communication, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared,GPRS, GSM, CDMA, Z-Wave, ZigBee, another protocol, or a combinationthereof.

The power source 210 is a source for providing power to the imaging andtracking device 200. For example, the power source 210 can be aninterface to an external power distribution system. In another example,the power source 210 can be a battery, such as a coin-cell battery oranother battery.

Implementations of the imaging and tracking device 200 may differ fromwhat is shown and described with respect to FIG. 2 . In someimplementations, the motion sensor 204 may be omitted. In someimplementations, one or more other sensors may be included. For example,in some such implementations, the imaging and tracking device 200 mayinclude an accelerometer or other sensor capable of detectingvibrations. The accelerometer or other sensor may be used to monitor forvibrations (e.g., indicative of a person accessing a furniture unit towhich the imaging and tracking device 200 is coupled, such as by theperson opening a door or pulling on a drawer or shelf of the furnitureunit).

The implementation of the imaging and tracking device 200 shown in FIG.2 includes each of the image sensor 202, the motion sensor 204, theprocessor 206, the network interface 208, and the power source 210 asbeing included within a single housing or other enclosure. However, insome implementations, the components of the imaging and tracking device200 may be physically separated into multiple housings or otherenclosures, or otherwise separated. For example, in some suchimplementations, the image sensor 202 and the motion sensor 204 may beincluded in a first portion of the imaging and tracking device 200 andthe processor 206 and the network interface 208 may be included in asecond portion of the imaging and tracking device 200. The first portionmay be coupled to the furniture unit. The second portion may be externalto the furniture unit.

In some implementations, the power source 210 can cause the networkinterface 208 transmit a signal indicating a low power status of theimaging and tracking device 200. For example, a server device running asoftware application (e.g., the server device 106 and the softwareapplication 108 shown in FIG. 1 )) can receive a signal indicating a lowpower status of the imaging and tracking device 200. The softwareapplication can then indicate the low power status, such as to one ormore client devices of personnel of the health care provider that usesthe imaging and tracking device 200.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging and trackingdevice coupled to a furniture unit 300 for monitoring and trackinginventory items 302. In particular, an image sensor 304, a processor306, and a network interface 308 of the imaging and tracking device areshown. The image sensor 304, the processor 306, and the networkinterface 308 may, for example, respectively be the image sensor 202,the processor 206, and the network interface 208 shown in FIG. 2 . Inthe implementation shown in FIG. 3 , the image sensor 304 is coupled tothe furniture unit 300, and the processor 306 and the network interface308 are external to the furniture unit 300.

The image sensor 304 has a field of view 310. The field of view 310represents the physical area of the furniture unit 300 for which theimage sensor 304 is configured to capture images. In someimplementations, the field of view 310 may be adjustable, such as byselectively opening or narrowing aspects of the image sensor. In someimplementations, the image sensor may be included in a controllablemechanism. For example, a user of a software application that processesinformation received from the imaging and tracking device may use thesoftware application to remotely control, in real-time, a direction ofthe image sensor 304. Changing the direction of the image sensor 304causes the specific location of the field of view 310 to change.

Implementations of the imaging and tracking device may differ from whatis shown and described with respect to FIG. 3 . In some implementations,one or more sensors external to the image sensor 304 may be coupled tothe furniture unit 300. For example, the one or more sensors may includeweight or pressure sensors configured to detect differences in an amountof weight or pressure applied to a surface on which the inventory items302 are stored. Such a weight or pressure sensor can be used to detectthe physical retrieval of one or more of the inventory items 302. Forexample, the data recorded using such a weight or pressure sensor can beprocessed by the processor 306 to detect the physical retrieval of aninventory item 302. In some such implementations, a single weight orpressure sensor may be configured to measure changes in weight orpressure for the entire surface of the furniture unit 300. In other suchimplementations, multiple weight or pressure sensors may each bedisposed in a different location about the surface of the furniture unit300 and configured to measure changes in weight or pressure for theirspecific locations.

In some implementations, a light source may be used to illuminate all ora portion of the furniture unit 300. For example, where the furnitureunit 300 is or includes an enclosed piece of furniture, the image sensor304 may not be exposed to enough light to effectively capture images fordetecting retrievals of the inventory items 302. In some suchimplementations, the image sensor 304 and the light source may beincluded in a common housing or other enclosure.

FIGS. 4A-B are illustrations showing examples of inventory itemenumeration for identification using an imaging and tracking device. Animaging and tracking device (e.g., the imaging and tracking device 200shown in FIG. 2 ) may be configured to detect one or more visualcharacteristics of some or all inventory items stored within or on afurniture unit. The imaging and tracking device may further beconfigured to enumerate the detected characteristics and use thoseenumerations to detect changes within a field of view of an image sensorof the imaging and tracking device.

First, in FIG. 4A, four inventory items 400-406 are shown. The inventoryitems 400-406 are stored within the same furniture unit. Next, in FIG.4B, the same inventory items from FIG. 4A are shown with enumerations408-414. The enumerations 408-414 are visually represented based ondetected shapes of the inventory items 400-406 and with annotatednumbers representing a total count of the inventory items 400-406, inwhich the enumerations 408-414 assign each inventory item 400-406 with anumber of the total count (e.g., one, two, three, or four, as shown).

The imaging and tracking device can determine that an inventory item hasbeen physically retrieved from the furniture unit based on theenumerations 408-414. For example, enumerations of a first imagecaptured using the image sensor of the imaging and tracking device mayindicate that all four of the inventory items 400-406 are present at thetime the first image was captured. However, enumerations of a secondimage captured using the image sensor of the imaging and tracking deviceat a time after the first image was captured may indicate that onlythree of the inventory items 400-406 remain within or on the furnitureunit.

Based on this information, the imaging and tracking device can determinethat one of the four inventory items 400-406 has been physicallyretrieved from the furniture unit. The imaging and tracking device canthen determine which of the four inventory items 400-406 the retrievedinventory item is. The imaging and tracking device can then generate asignal indicating information identifying the retrieved inventory itemand transmit that signal to a server running a software application(e.g., the server 106 and the software application 108 shown in FIG. 1 )to cause the software application to update a database record (e.g., ofthe database 110 shown in FIG. 1 ) associated with the retrievedinventory item.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a workflow 500 of areal-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligencesystem. The workflow 500 commences at 502 with a health care providercreating a task for performance within a software application of areal-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligence system(e.g., the software application 108 of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 ).Based on the created task, the health care provider looks for aninventory item to use to perform the task. At 504, after the health careprovider retrieves the inventory item from the furniture unit, theimaging and tracking device corresponding to that furniture unit detectsthe physical retrieval of the inventory item.

At 506, the retrieved inventory item is identified. Identifying theretrieved inventory item includes identifying or otherwise determininginformation usable to identify the retrieved inventory item, such asfrom amongst the other inventory items stored within the same furnitureunit or otherwise used at the same health care facility. The retrievedinventory item can be identified by the imaging and tracking device usedto detect the retrieval of the inventory item from the respectivefurniture unit and/or by the software application that receives a signalfrom the imaging and tracking device. At 508, a database accessed by thesoftware application is updated to indicate the retrieval of theinventory item. For example, updating the database can include updatinga record associated with an inventory of the inventory item to indicatethat the total inventory for that inventory item type has decreased. At510, the software application outputs information indicative of theupdated database record. For example, the software application canoutput information to a dashboard of the software application, whichmay, for example, be included in a GUI of the software application.

Implementations of the workflow 500 may differ from what is shown anddescribed with respect to FIG. 5 . In some implementations, after thehealth care provider retrieves the inventory item, the health careprovider can submit information identifying the retrieved inventory itemto the software application. For example, the health care provider canscan a barcode or other coded portion of the inventory item or otherwiseindicate the inventory item to the software application. The softwareapplication can use the submitted information in one or more ways. Insome implementations, the software application can use the submittedinformation to verify the automated detection and identification of theretrieved inventory item by the imaging and tracking device and/or bythe software application. In some implementations, the softwareapplication can correlate the submitted application to the task createdat the beginning of the workflow 500. In some implementations, thesoftware application can use the submitted information to train amachine learning model (e.g., a neural network or other intelligenceapproach) to recognize the retrieved inventory item.

In some implementations, the workflow 500 further includes inventoryanalytics. For example, the software application can includefunctionality for performing predictive analytics against information,such as database records stored within the database (e.g., the database110). In some such implementations, the predictive analytics can includeusing a model (e.g., a machine learning model or another model) toanalyze trends in inventory item usage over time. For example, thetrends in inventory item usage over time can be analyzed to forecastinventory requirements for the inventory item and/or to forecastinventory usage for the inventory item over some period of time. In somesuch implementations, the software application can include functionalityfor automating re-ordering processes for acquiring more of an inventoryitem, for example, based on output of the predictive analytics of thesoftware application.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of a GUI 600 of a softwareapplication for inventory tracking and management. The GUI 600 is a GUIwhich may be rendered or displayed, such as to render or display pagesof a software application of a real-time health care inventory imagingand tracking intelligence system for use (e.g., the software application108 of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 ). The GUI 600 can comprise partof a software GUI constituting data that reflect information ultimatelydestined for display on a hardware device, for example, the client 116shown in FIG. 1 ). For example, the data can contain renderinginstructions for bounded graphical display regions, such as windows, orpixel information representative of controls, such as buttons anddrop-down menus. The rendering instructions can, for example, be in theform of HTML, SGML, JavaScript, Jelly, AngularJS, or other text orbinary instructions for generating the GUI 600 or another GUI on adisplay that can be used to generate pixel information. A structureddata output of one device can be provided to an input of the hardwaredisplay so that the elements provided on the hardware display screenrepresent the underlying structure of the output data.

The GUI 600 includes multiple frames, each showing different informationof the real-time health care inventory imaging and tracking intelligencesystem. For example, a first frame 602 shows information specific to aretrieved inventory item. As shown, the information in the first frame602 includes an identification number, an item name, a tradename, amanufacturer name, a reference number, a lot number, an expiration date,and a shelf location (e.g., indicating the furniture unit of the healthcare clinic from which the inventory item was retrieved and/or thelocation at which that inventory item was stored within or on thatfurniture unit). In another example, a second frame 604 indicatesquantities of the inventory item which have been used in recent time. Asshown, the second frame 604 includes a textual visualization of thequantities used and a graphical visualization thereof.

In yet another example, a third frame 606 includes some or all of aknowledgebase article associated with the inventory item which has beenphysically retrieved from a furniture unit. The knowledgebase articlecan include one or more of a description of the inventory item,instructions for using the inventory item, care instructions for beforeor after the inventory item is used, storage instructions for theinventory item, or other information associated with the inventory item.The knowledgebase articles may include one or more of text, images,audio, or video. The third frame 600 may include some or all of aknowledgebase article. In some implementations, where only some of theknowledgebase article is shown, the third frame 600 may also include alink to the knowledgebase page which includes that article.

In some implementations, the software application which generates theGUI 600 or otherwise generates the instructions for rendering the GUI600 can retrieve the knowledgebase article (e.g., from the database 110shown in FIG. 1 ) in response to the identification of the retrievedinventory item at the software application. For example, the softwareapplication can automatically retrieve some or all of the knowledgebasefor a retrieved inventory item in response to receipt of a signal froman imaging and tracking device, such as whether the signal itselfidentifies the retrieved inventory item or whether the signal includesinformation used by the software application to identify the retrievedinventory item.

After the knowledgebase article is retrieved, it can be transmitted to acomputing device of a health care provider (e.g., a nurse or otherclinic or hospital staff) who will use the inventory item (e.g., theclient 116 shown in FIG. 1 ). For example, transmitting theknowledgebase article to the computing device of the health careprovider can include the software application generating instructionsfor displaying the knowledgebase article in the GUI 600 and transmittingthose instructions along with the GUI 600 to (or along with instructionsfor rendering the GUI 600 at) the computing device of the health careprovider. The retrieval and transmission of the knowledgebase article isautomatic upon the detection and identification of the retrievedinventory item such that no manual user intervention is required tocause the knowledgebase article to be sent to the computing device ofthe health care provider.

Implementations of the GUI 600 may differ from what is shown anddescribed with respect to FIG. 6 . In some implementations, the GUI 600,or another GUI of the software application of the real-time health careinventory imaging and tracking intelligence system, may include a videodisplay. For example, the video display can be used to show enumerationsof the inventory items of one or more furniture units by the system. Insome such implementations, the GUI 600, or the other GUI which includesthe video display, may also display information related to theenumerated inventory items, including, without limitation, expirationdates, reference numbers, lot numbers, manufacturer information,purchase dates, purchase prices, and/or national drug code numbers.

To further describe some implementations in greater detail, reference isnext made to an example of a technique which may be performed by orusing a real-time health care inventory imaging and trackingintelligence system as described with respect to FIGS. 1-6 . FIG. 7 is aflowchart showing an example of a technique 700 for real-time healthcare inventory imaging and tracking intelligence. The technique 700 canbe executed using computing devices, such as the systems, hardware, andsoftware described with respect to FIGS. 1-6 . The technique 700 can beperformed, for example, by executing a machine-readable program or othercomputer-executable instructions, such as routines, instructions,programs, or other code. The steps, or operations, of the technique 700or another technique, method, process, or algorithm described inconnection with the implementations disclosed herein can be implementeddirectly in hardware, firmware, software executed by hardware,circuitry, or a combination thereof.

For simplicity of explanation, the technique 700 is depicted anddescribed herein as a series of steps or operations. However, the stepsor operations in accordance with this disclosure can occur in variousorders and/or concurrently. Additionally, other steps or operations notpresented and described herein may be used. Furthermore, not allillustrated steps or operations may be required to implement a techniquein accordance with the disclosed subject matter.

At 702, the imaging and tracking device is configured for use intracking inventory items within a furniture unit. Configuring theimaging and tracking device includes coupling at least a portion of theimaging and tracking device to a portion of the furniture unit. Theimaging and tracking device can be removably coupled to the furnitureunit, for example, to enable easy relocation of the imaging and trackingdevice. Alternatively, the imaging and tracking device can bepermanently coupled to the furniture unit. In some implementationsconfiguring the imaging and tracking device further includes adjusting afield of view of an image sensor of the imaging and tracking device toenable the image sensor to capture an image of each of the inventoryitems. Adjusting the field of view of the image sensor can includeremotely controlling a pan/tilt motor of the image sensor to adjust anorientation of the image sensor. In some implementations, the remotecontrolling of the pan/tilt motor can be automated by the softwareapplication. For example, the software application can automaticallyadjust the orientation of the image sensor responsive to a determinationthat a field of view of the image sensor does not capture all or athreshold number of inventory items stored within a furniture unit.

At 704, the imaging and tracking device is used to detect the physicalretrieval of one of the inventory items from the furniture unit.Detecting the physical retrieval of the one of the inventory items fromthe furniture unit can include comparing first image data against secondimage data. For example, the first image data may include an imagegenerated using the image sensor of the imaging and tracking devicebefore the physical retrieval of the one of the inventory items, and thesecond image data may include an image generated using the image sensorafter the physical retrieval of the one of the inventory items. In someimplementations, the retrieval of the inventory item can be detectedusing enumerations for the first image data and using enumerations forthe second image data. For example, the enumerations can be used todetermine that an enumerated inventory item is removed from a field ofview of the image sensor. In some implementations, the enumerations ordata indicative thereof may be stored in a cache of the imaging andtracking device. The imaging and tracking device can retrieve recentlycached enumerations or other data and compare such retrievedenumerations or other data to current enumerations or other data todetect a change in the inventory items stored within or on the furnitureunit.

At 706, a first signal including data identifying the retrievedinventory item is generated at the imaging and tracking device. Theinformation included in the first signal can be different based onwhether the retrieved inventory item is identified at the imaging andtracking device. For example, where the retrieved inventory item isidentified at the imaging and tracking device, the first signal caninclude information identifying the retrieved inventory item. In anotherexample, where the retrieved inventory item is not identified at theimaging and tracking device, the first signal can include informationusable by a software application that will process the first signal toidentify the retrieved inventory item.

At 708, the first signal is transmitted from the imaging and trackingdevice to a server device running a software application. Transmittingthe first signal from the imaging and tracking device to the serverdevice can including using a network interface of the imaging andtracking device to wirelessly communicate the first signal to the serverdevice over a short-range communication protocol. In someimplementations, the short-range communication protocol can be Wi-Fi orBluetooth®.

At 710, the software application automatically updates a database recordassociated with the retrieved inventory item based on the first signal.The updating of the database record occurs without manual userintervention. The software application updates the database record byprocessing the first signal to identify the retrieved inventory item.The software application then queries a database using an identifier ofthe retrieved inventory item to retrieve a database record associatedwith the retrieved inventory item from the database. The softwareapplication can then update that database record. Updating the databaserecord based on the first signal can include updating one or more piecesof data included in the database record. For example, the data includedin the first signal can be used to update data of the database recordincluding, but not limited to, a total inventory number for theinventory item type, a time at which the inventory item was lastretrieved, a furniture unit from which the inventory item lastretrieved, a task created for performance using the retrieved inventoryitem, or other information.

At 712, a second signal indicative of the updated database record istransmitted from the server device to a client device. The second signalincludes information, instructions, or the like and is used to indicatea user of the client device as to the updated database record. Forexample, the second signal may include instructions for rendering a GUIat the client device, which GUI includes updated inventory informationfor the retrieved inventory item and/or some or all of a knowledgebasearticle indicating use and/or care instructions for the retrievedinventory item. In some implementations, the second signal can be analert (e.g., a push notification, text message, or other alert)associated with a task to perform using the retrieved inventory item.For example, a health care facility manager can receive the secondsignal as an alert to indicate that a staff member of the health carefacility is performing or has completed performance of a task.

In some implementations, the imaging and tracking device 102 can usedifferent states for power preservation. For example, a wait state canbe used to cause a power source of the imaging and tracking device topreserve power, such as by causing a processor of the imaging andtracking device to put the imaging and tracking device into a low-powermode. In another example, an active state can be used to cause the powersource to use necessary power to enable the other components of theimaging and tracking device to detect inventory item retrievals and/orgenerate and communicate signals indicative of such detections.

In some such implementations, the technique 700 may include changing thestate of the imaging and tracking device from the wait state to theactive state. For example, upon the detection of a vibration, theprocessor may change the state of the imaging and tracking device from await state to an active state, such as to enable the use of the imagesensor. In some such implementations, the processor changes the state ofthe imaging and tracking device in response to a determination that thevibration detected using the accelerometer or other vibration sensormeets a threshold. For example, the threshold may be used to preventfalse positive situations in which the furniture unit is exposed to avibration unrelated to the accessing of the furniture unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a computing device 800which may be used in a real-time health care inventory imaging andtracking intelligence system, for example, the system 100 shown in FIG.1 . The computing device 800 may be used to implement a server on whicha software application is run (e.g., the server 106 and the softwareapplication 108 shown in FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, the computing device800 may be used to implement a client that accesses the softwareapplication (e.g., the client 116 shown in FIG. 1 ). As a furtheralternative, the computing device 800 may be used as or to implementanother client, server, or other device according to the implementationsdisclosed herein. The computing device 800 includes components or units,such as a processor 802, a memory 804, a bus 806, a power source 808,peripherals 810, a user interface 812, and a network interface 814. Oneof more of the memory 804, the power source 808, the peripherals 810,the user interface 812, or the network interface 814 can communicatewith the processor 802 via the bus 806.

The processor 802 is a central processing unit, such as amicroprocessor, and can include single or multiple processors havingsingle or multiple processing cores. Alternatively, the processor 802can include another type of device, or multiple devices, now existing orhereafter developed, configured for manipulating or processinginformation. For example, the processor 802 can include multipleprocessors interconnected in any manner, including hardwired ornetworked, including wirelessly networked. For example, the operationsof the processor 802 can be distributed across multiple devices or unitsthat can be coupled directly or across a local area or other suitabletype of network. The processor 802 can include a cache, or cache memory,for local storage of operating data and/or instructions.

The memory 804 includes one or more memory components, which may each bevolatile memory or non-volatile memory. For example, the volatile memoryof the memory 804 can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., a DRAMmodule, such as DDR SDRAM) or another form of volatile memory. Inanother example, the non-volatile memory of the memory 804 can be a diskdrive, a solid state drive, flash memory, phase-change memory, oranother form of non-volatile memory configured for persistent electronicinformation storage. The memory 804 may also include other types ofdevices, now existing or hereafter developed, configured for storingdata or instructions for processing by the processor 802.

The memory 804 can include data for immediate access by the processor802. For example, the memory 804 can include executable instructions816, application data 818, and an operating system 820. The executableinstructions 816 can include one or more application programs, which canbe loaded or copied, in whole or in part, from non-volatile memory tovolatile memory to be executed by the processor 802. For example, theexecutable instructions 816 can include instructions for performing someor all of the techniques of this disclosure. The application data 818can include user data, database data (e.g., database catalogs ordictionaries), or the like. The operating system 820 can be, forexample, Microsoft Windows®, Mac OS X®, or Linux®, an operating systemfor a small device, such as a smartphone or tablet device; or anoperating system for a large device, such as a mainframe computer.

The power source 808 includes a source for providing power to thecomputing device 800. For example, the power source 808 can be aninterface to an external power distribution system. In another example,the power source 808 can be a battery, such as where the computingdevice 800 is a mobile device or is otherwise configured to operateindependently of an external power distribution system.

The peripherals 810 includes one or more sensors, detectors, or otherdevices configured for monitoring the computing device 800 or theenvironment around the computing device 800. For example, theperipherals 810 can include a geolocation component, such as a globalpositioning system location unit. In another example, the peripheralscan include a temperature sensor for measuring temperatures ofcomponents of the computing device 800, such as the processor 802.

The user interface 812 includes one or more input interfaces and/oroutput interfaces. An input interface may, for example, be a positionalinput device, such as a mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, or the like; akeyboard; or another suitable human or machine interface device. Anoutput interface may, for example, be a display, such as a liquidcrystal display, a cathode-ray tube, a light emitting diode display, orother suitable display.

The network interface 814 provides a connection or link to a network(e.g., the network 116 shown in FIG. 1 ). The network interface 814 canbe a wired network interface or a wireless network interface. Thecomputing device 800 can communicate with other devices via the networkinterface 814 using one or more network protocols, such as usingEthernet, TCP, IP, power line communication, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared,GPRS, GSM, CDMA, Z-Wave, ZigBee, another protocol, or a combinationthereof.

Implementations of the computing device 800 may differ from what isshown and described with respect to FIG. 8 . In some implementations,the computing device 800 can omit the peripherals 810. In someimplementations, the memory 804 can be distributed across multipledevices. For example, the memory 804 can include network-based memory ormemory in multiple clients or servers performing the operations of thosemultiple devices. In some implementations, the application data 818 caninclude functional programs, such as a web browser, a web server, adatabase server, another program, or a combination thereof.

The implementations of this disclosure can be described in terms offunctional block components and various processing operations. Suchfunctional block components can be realized by a number of hardware orsoftware components that perform the specified functions. For example,the disclosed implementations can employ various integrated circuitcomponents (e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements,look-up tables, and the like), which can carry out a variety offunctions under the control of one or more microprocessors or othercontrol devices. Similarly, where the elements of the disclosedimplementations are implemented using software programming or softwareelements, the systems and techniques can be implemented with aprogramming or scripting language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript,assembler, or the like, with the various algorithms being implementedwith a combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines, orother programming elements.

Functional aspects can be implemented in algorithms that execute on oneor more processors. Furthermore, the implementations of the systems andtechniques disclosed herein could employ a number of conventionaltechniques for electronics configuration, signal processing or control,data processing, and the like. The words “mechanism” and “component” areused broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physicalimplementations, but can include software routines in conjunction withprocessors, etc.

Likewise, the terms “system” or “mechanism” as used herein and in thefigures, but in any event based on their context, may be understood ascorresponding to a functional unit implemented using software, hardware(e.g., an integrated circuit, such as an ASIC), or a combination ofsoftware and hardware. In certain contexts, such systems or mechanismsmay be understood to be a processor-implemented software system orprocessor-implemented software mechanism that is part of or callable byan executable program, which may itself be wholly or partly composed ofsuch linked systems or mechanisms.

Implementations or portions of implementations of the above disclosurecan take the form of a computer program product accessible from, forexample, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium. Acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any device that can,for example, tangibly contain, store, communicate, or transport aprogram or data structure for use by or in connection with anyprocessor. The medium can be, for example, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor device.

Other suitable mediums are also available. Such computer-usable orcomputer-readable media can be referred to as non-transitory memory ormedia, and can include volatile memory or non-volatile memory that canchange over time. A memory of an apparatus described herein, unlessotherwise specified, does not have to be physically contained by theapparatus, but is one that can be accessed remotely by the apparatus,and does not have to be contiguous with other memory that might bephysically contained by the apparatus.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certainimplementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to belimited to the disclosed implementations but, on the contrary, isintended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangementsincluded within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a server device running asoftware application, wherein the software application is configured toreceive an identification of a health care task to be performed using aninventory item; and an imaging and tracking device removably coupled toan interior surface of a furniture unit enclosed by a door, the imagingand tracking device including an image sensor, one or more othersensors, and a processor, wherein the imaging and tracking devicechanges from a wait state to an active state based on sensormeasurements produced using the one or more other sensors meeting athreshold, wherein, to preserve resources, the imaging and trackingdevice in the wait state restricts image capture using the image sensorand in the active state captures images of inventory items stored withinthe furniture unit using the image sensor, and wherein: the image sensorcaptures a first image of inventory items stored within the furnitureunit at a first time, the inventory items including a first subset ofinventory items and a second subset of inventory items; the processordetects one or more visual characteristics of the inventory items basedon the first image to determine that all of the first subset ofinventory items are of a given item type and that the second subset ofinventory items includes items are other than of the given item type;the processor assigns enumerations to the first subset of inventoryitems within the first image according to the one or more visualcharacteristics of the inventory items to determine a first count ofenumerations of the first subset of inventory items; the one or moreother sensors produce first sensor measurements representative of avibration detected at the furniture unit at a second time after thefirst time; the processor determines for the imaging and tracking deviceto remain in the wait state responsive to a determination that the firstsensor measurements do not meet the threshold; the one or more othersensors produce second sensor measurements representative of a vibrationdetected at the furniture unit at a third time after the second time;the processor determines to change the imaging and tracking device tothe active state responsive to a determination that the second sensormeasurements meet the threshold; the image sensor captures a secondimage of the inventory items based on the change to the active state;the processor processes the second image to detect a physical retrievalof one of the first subset of inventory items from the furniture unitbased on a second count of enumerations of the first subset of inventoryitems determined based on the second image not matching the first countof enumerations of the first subset of inventory items, wherein theretrieved inventory item corresponds to the inventory item in the healthcare task to be performed; the processor sends the first signal to theserver device including data associated with a retrieved inventory itemresponsive to the physical retrieval of the retrieved inventory item;and the server device updates a database record associated with theretrieved inventory item within a database responsive to the firstsignal, and transmits a second signal to a client device incommunication with the server device responsive to the first signal,wherein the second signal includes an alert that the health care task isbeing performed with the retrieved inventory item, and wherein thesecond signal includes information associated with the updated databaserecord.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associatedwith the updated database record includes instructions for rendering agraphical user interface of the software application at the clientdevice, wherein the graphical user interface displays informationassociated with the retrieved inventory item and the informationassociated with the updated database record.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein the information displayed within the graphical user interfaceincludes a knowledgebase article describing instructions for using theretrieved inventory item, wherein the graphical user interface is outputfor display at the client device in response to the updating of thedatabase record.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging andtracking device includes a motor used to adjust an orientation of theimage sensor, wherein the software application is configured toautomatically control the motor based on a field of view of the imagesensor.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data included in thesignal includes data recorded using the image sensor and data recordedusing the one or more other sensors.
 6. An imaging and tracking device,comprising: an image sensor configured to capture images of inventoryitems stored within a furniture unit to which at least a portion of theimaging and tracking device is coupled when the imaging and trackingdevice is in an active state; one or more other sensors configured toproduce sensor measurements used to determine whether to change theimaging and tracking device from a wait state to the active state,wherein resources of the imaging and tracking device are preserved whilein the wait state; a processor configured to: process a first imagecaptured using the image sensor at a first time to assign enumerationsto a subset of the inventory items based on detected characteristics ofthe subset of the inventory items being of a same item type, determinefor the imaging and tracking device to remain in the wait stateresponsive to first sensor measurements produced by the one or moreother sensors at a second time after the first time not meeting athreshold, wherein resources of the imaging and tracking device arepreserved while in the wait state by the imaging and tracking devicerestricting image capture using the image sensor while in the waitstate, determine for the imaging and tracking device to change to theactive wait state responsive to second sensor measurements produced bythe one or more other sensors at a third time after the second timemeeting the threshold, cause the image sensor to capture a second imageresponsive to the change to the active state, process the second imageto detect a physical retrieval of one of the subset of the inventoryitems from the furniture unit based on a second count of enumerations ofthe subset of the inventory items determined based on the second imagenot matching a first count of enumerations of the subset of theinventory items, and generate a signal including data identifying theretrieved inventory item, wherein the retrieved inventory itemcorresponds to a health care task previously received at a server deviceto be performed with an inventory item; and a network interface thattransmits the signal to the server device, wherein a softwareapplication running on the server device uses the signal to cause anautomatic update to a record associated with the retrieved inventoryitem within a database and generate an alert to a client deviceindicating that the health care task is being performed with theretrieved inventory item.
 7. The imaging and tracking device of claim 6,further comprising: a motion sensor that detects movements proximate tothe inventory items, wherein the processor uses the movements to detectthe physical retrieval of the one of the subset of the inventory itemsfrom the furniture unit.
 8. The imaging and tracking device of claim 6,further comprising: a power source that powers the imaging and trackingdevice, wherein the power source preserves power when the imaging andtracking device is in the wait state.
 9. The imaging and tracking deviceof claim 6, further comprising: a light source that illuminates thefurniture unit for the image sensor to capture the images.
 10. Theimaging and tracking device of claim 6, wherein the enumerations of theinventory items include annotated numbers representing a total count ofthe subset of the inventory items in which the enumerations assign eachof the inventory items a number of the total count.
 11. The imaging andtracking device of claim 6, wherein the detected characteristics of theinventory items correspond to detected shapes of the inventory items.12. The imaging and tracking device of claim 6, wherein a first portionof the imaging and tracking device includes the image sensor and iscoupled to a portion of the furniture unit, wherein a second portion ofthe imaging and tracking device includes the processor and is externalto the furniture unit, wherein data is wirelessly communicated betweenthe image sensor and the processor using a short-range communicationprotocol.
 13. A method, comprising: receiving, at a server device, anindication of a health care task to be performed using an inventoryitem; capturing, using an image sensor of an imaging and tracking devicecoupled to a furniture unit, a first image of inventory items storedwithin the furniture unit at a first time; detecting, using a processorof the imaging and tracking device, one or more visual characteristicsof the inventory items the first image to determine that a subset of theinventory items are all of a given item type; determining a first countof enumerations of the subset of the inventory items; determining, usingthe processor of the imaging and tracking device, for the imaging andtracking device to remain in a wait state based on first sensormeasurements produced using one or more other sensors of the imaging andtracking device and representing a vibration detected at the furnitureunit at a second time after the first time not meeting a threshold,wherein resources of the imaging and tracking device are preserved whilein the wait state by the imaging and tracking device restricting imagecapture using the image sensor while in the wait state; determining,using the processor of the imaging and tracking device, for the imagingand tracking device to change from the wait state to an active statebased on second sensor measurements produced using one or more othersensors of the imaging and tracking device and representing a vibrationdetected at the furniture unit at a third time after the second timemeeting the threshold; capturing, using the image sensor of the imagingand tracking device, a second image based on the change from the waitstate to the active state; detecting, using the processor of the imagingand tracking device, a physical retrieval of one of the subset of theinventory items from the furniture unit based on a second count ofenumerations of the subset of the inventory items determined based onthe second image not matching the first count of enumerations of thesubset of the inventory items; generating, using the processor of theimaging and tracking device, a signal including data associated with theretrieved inventory item, wherein the retrieved inventory item isassociated with the inventory item in the health care task to beperformed; transmitting, from the imaging and tracking device, thesignal to the server device, wherein the server device runs a softwareapplication to cause an automatic update to a database record associatedwith the retrieved inventory item; and generating, by the server device,an alert to a client device indicating that the health care task isbeing performed with the retrieved inventory item.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, the method comprising: adjusting a field of view of an imagesensor of the imaging and tracking device to enable the image sensor tocapture an image of each of the inventory items.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the imaging and tracking device is removably coupled to thefurniture unit.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein a first portion ofthe imaging and tracking device is coupled to a portion of the furnitureunit and a second portion of the imaging and tracking device is externalto the furniture unit.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the firstportion of the imaging and tracking device includes the image sensor andthe second portion of the imaging and tracking device includes a networkinterface, wherein data is wirelessly communicated between the imagesensor and the network interface using a short-range communicationprotocol.
 18. The method of claim 13, the method comprising: assigning,using the processor of the imaging and tracking device, enumerations tothe subset of the inventory items based on the one or more visualcharacteristics, wherein the enumerations of the subset of the inventoryitems include annotated numbers representing a total count of the subsetof the inventory items in which the enumerations assign each of thesubset of the inventory items a number of the total count.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the one or more visual characteristics ofthe inventory items correspond to detected shapes of the subset of theinventory items.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein a machine learningmodel is trained to recognize the inventory items, and wherein the dataassociated with the retrieved inventory item includes data output fromthe machine learning model.